Dumb waiter



C. C. OLSON Aug; 15, 1961 DUMB WAITER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed OCt. 26, 1959 5 1 Flc. 2

FIG.

INV ENTOR.

BYC'ARL C'. OLSON MM nrllllllllllllllll l:

AT TORNEYS United States Patent O 2,996,151 DUMB WAITER Carl C. Olson, %The Spot, Box 85, South International Falls, Minn. Filed Oct. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 848,815 3 Claims. (Cl. 187-3) This invention relates generally to equipment for restaurants, bars and the like, and more particularly to improved apparatus for elevating food and beverages to the different iloors or levels of such establishments. This [invention is therefore particularly useful in such an establishment which has two or more oors or levels, or in one having a dining room on one level and a bar on another.

As its primary object, this invention comprehends a serving apparatus or dumb waiter which includes as an element thereof, a oor mounted bottomless cabinet having a lid or top which covers the cabinet when the serving platform is positioned below the cabinet, but which top is raised above the cabinet by the serving platform when said platform is positioned substantially in the plane of the top portion of said cabinet.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a dumb waiter the visible portions of which are extremely pleasing in appearance and in which the cabinet portion is constructed to harmonize with the surrounding fixtures of the establishment so as not to distract in any way from the neat appearance of the establishment.

Other objects of my invention are inherent in the provision of a dumb waiter which is comparatively simple in construction and mode of operation, which may be inexpensively maintained in working condition and which is highly eicient in the vindication of its purpose.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. l is a view in side elevation, some parts broken away and some parts shown in section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the upper portion of the structure with the lifting platform in its initial top raising position;

FIG. 3 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a View in fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional View of one of the guide rollers and its associated parts.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 represents generally a floor mounted cabinet having aligned openings yin its upper and lower end portions. The cabinet 1 has vertically disposed side walls 2 and a vertically removable top 3. The top 3 is generally rectangular and has four corner vlegs 4 depending from the corner portions 5 of said top 3, which corner legs 4 are slidably received within corresponding guide brackets 6 mounted on the outer surface 7 of the frame members 15a. Spaced intermediate said corner legs 4 are at least two other legs 4a which are formed at their lower ends to define horizontally turned enlarged feet 8. The feet 8 are functionally located to actuate the vertical movement of said top 3, as will hereinafter be explained.

Associated with and projecting through said cabinet 1 are four corner frame members 9 which form a part of the entire frame denoted generally by the reference numeral 10. These corner frame members 9, which are 2,996,151 Patented Aug. 15, 1961 ICC preferably and as shown fabricated from angle iron, form a guideway for the vertical raising and lowering movements of the lifting platform 11. The generally rectangular 'lifting platform 1-1, which is of smaller dimensions than the spacing of the corner frame members 9, is provided at each of its corners 12. with guide rollers 13 which slidably engage the inner surfaces 14 of said corner frame members 9a The lower portion of said frame 10 comprises side frame members 15 horizontally spaced between said corner frame members 9 and the upper portion of said frame comprises corresponding side frame members 15a. Centrally spaced within said side frame members 15 and secured by horizontal web members 16 is a Vertically disposed fluid pressure operated piston-cylinder 17 equipped with a plunger rod 18. The top of said cylinder 17 is disposed substantially in the plane of the lower portion of said frame 10. The upper end 19` of the plunger rod 18, which plunger rod preferably and as shown includes a smaller upper plunger rod 18a, is secured to the bottom Z0 of said platform 11. Connected to said cylinder 17 is a fluid pressure means, not shown, for operating said cylinder 17.

When my invention is installed so that the cabinet 1 is mounted on the floor of one level of the establishment and the frame 10 depends into the room below, a serving apparatus is provided which is extremely simple and eflicient to operate. With platform 11 disposed at its lower limit of movement, the articles to be transported are placed on the platform 11 and the means for imparting pressure to the cylinder 17 is actuated. The platform 11, with its guide rollers 13 slidably engaging the corner frame members 9, is raised to a position inside the cabinet. When the platform 11 reaches the feet 8, which lie in the path of travel of the platform 11, the contact is cushioned by the shock absorbers 21 which are secured on the upper side 22. of said platform 11 in underlying relationship to said feet 8. The continuing upward movement of said platform 11 raises the top 3 from engagement with the cabinet 1. When the platform 1-1 and the top 3` reach the upper limit of movement as defined by the feet 8 making contact with tabs 8a secured to said side frame members 15a, the contact is cushioned by another set of shock absorbers 2,3` which are secured on the upper side 24 of said feet 8i. In this position, the top 3 is canopied in overlying relationship with the platform 11 and the cabinet 1. When it is desired to `lower the platform 11 the above process is reversed and the top 3l returns to overlying engagement with said cabinet 1 and the platform 11 is returned to its original lower position by lowering the pressure in said cylinder 17.

This invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects; and while I have shown a preferred embodiment thereof, I wish it to be specifically understood that same is capable of modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a dumb waiter, a floor mounted cabinet having aligned openings in its upper and lower end portions, a frame associated with said cabinet and projecting therethrough and therebelow, said frame including a plurality of elongated generally vertically disposed angle frame members one each disposed at each of the corners of said cabinet, said angle frame members cooperating to form a guideway, a generally rectangular lifting platform disposed within said guideway and mounted and guided therein for vertical raising and lowering movements from a position remote fromand below said cabinet to a position adjacent the opening in the top portion thereof, suitable supporting structure disposed in the level below the oor upon which said cabinet is mounted, means including a reciprocating fluid pressure operated motor interposed between said lifting platform and said supporting structure for selectively moving said lifting platform between said positions thereof, a removable generally rectangular top on said cabinet, means mounting and guiding said top for limited vertical move- :ment from a position in engagement with said cabinet to a position spaced thereabove, said last mentioned means comprising corner legs and other intermediate legs which depend from said top, guide brackets mounted on said cabinet for slidably receiving said corner legs, and enlarged feet formed on the the lower ends of said intermediate legs, said feet lying in the path of travel of and being engageable ywith said platform during final upward movement of said platform within said cabinet whereby said top is elevated to form a canopy over said platform after said final upward movement and is lowered to a cabinet closing position during initial downward movement of said platform.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said lifting platform is mounted and guided Within said guideway by means of a plurality of guide rollers one each adjustably secured by suitable bracket means to each of the corners of said lifting platform.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which said feet are provided with compressible bumpers on the top portion thereof, said bumpers being engageable with said cabinet adjacent said upper opening when said top reaches its nal upward movement, and in which comprcssible bumpers are also provided between said feet and the portion of said platform underlying said feet.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,219,044 Reichard Mar. 13, 1917 1,223,943 Daschner Apr. 24, 1917 FOREIGN PATENTS 726,154 France Feb. 23, 1932 

